The cheerful atmosphere disappeared instantly.

"Eat." Akiko's tone was flat, without any intonation.

After dinner, Akiko and Miyazaki Miyuki washed the dishes, while Dubian Che and Xiaoquan Aonai sat at the dining table.

"Teacher."

"Mm," Xiaoquan Aonai, who was dealing with work, responded.

Based on her tone, it seemed no different than usual, even softer.

"I'm sorry," Dubian Che said.

"Why apologize for taking your girlfriend out for our anniversary?" She pulled out a form and began copying something down.

Dubian Che watched her.

He could have just agreed earlier, found an opportunity to go out with Xiaoquan Aonai.

But at that moment, the image of that Divine Girl flashed through his mind.

There was always time to go out; was there a need to lie about planning to go with her all along?

Lying to the person you like, the person who likes you?

"I don't want to deceive you," he said.

Xiaoquan Aonai paused her pen for a moment and then continued to copy down, head lowered.

"It's because you were moved that you let me be your girlfriend; you never really liked me, didn't want to date me. I can understand since Jiutiao found out."

As she spoke, a sourness flooded Xiaoquan Aonai's heart.

The paper got wet as tears fell on their own accord.

Last night, after Miyazaki Miyuki casually spoke a few words, she fantasized about sharing the pressures of youth with Dubian Che and hardly slept all night.

Today, because of a small incident, she cried, feeling sad.

She hadn't cried in ten years, but since May 2nd, it had already happened twice.

"People hardly change," Dubian Che's voice was gentle, "Teacher, you've forgotten about that one month, but to see me, you still worked hard for ten years and came to Goda. I dated you, not really because I loved you so much, but mostly because I was moved and felt I couldn't let those ten years go to waste."

Xiaoquan Aonai's tears flowed even more, blurring her vision of the form.

She rubbed her eyes with her hand, and more tears surged out.

"But to say I don't like you, that would be the real lie. Liking someone doesn't need many moving reasons; Teacher, you're gentle, treat me well, are beautiful, so I like you. It's just that in the past, I restrained myself and only occasionally thought about it."

Xiaoquan Aonai remained quiet.

"Meiji, Mayi, Teacher, I like Meiji the most, but please believe me, even if Meiji finds out, I won't leave you, nor will I allow you to leave me."

"Meiji and Kiyono, they're selfish, striving for the person they like, the happiness they want, no matter what."

Dubian Che looked at the roses on the table, today it's Diana, with pink petals.

"Ten years ago, you said I was very gentle, but in fact, I am the same as them, all selfish."

Dubian Che's gaze moved away from the roses, looking at the silently Xiaoquan Aonai.

After quietly watching for a while, he stood up, walked behind her, and embraced her slender shoulders.

He whispered in her ear, firmly:

"Xiaoquan Aonai agreed to be my girlfriend, has been held by me; no matter what she thinks, whether she likes me or hates me, she must belong to me for her whole life. That's how selfish I am."

Xiaoquan Aonai was wrapped in Dubian Che's arms, and despite her sad emotions just moments ago, she suddenly felt sweet.

Though in the embrace of a student, she still wanted to uphold the dignity of a teacher.

"Anyway, you guys easily get into Tokyo University; you're all in the same league. I'm not," she said with a voice tinged with tears.

Her face flushed.

"Going to Tokyo University does indeed not require much effort," she agreed.

Xiaoquan Aonai struggled, trying to break free from Dubian Che's embrace.

"Mr. Dubian what are you doing! Let go of the teacher!" she chided in a low voice.

Dubian Che held on slightly tighter, pressing her back into his embrace.

"Teacher, Aonai," their cheeks pressed against each other as they looked at the pink roses on the dining table, "whether you cry or laugh, your life from now on is over, and you can only stay in my arms."

After a brief silence, Xiaoquan Aonai asked almost to herself, "No dates for life?"

"If you want, we can go right now. Watch a movie, walk hand in hand in the park, buy tickets to Kamakura and stay overnight, then rush back early in the morning."

"Really?"

"Mm, but Meiji can't find out, I can't handle her," Dubian Che said with a touch of helplessness and warmth.

"You really do like her more."

"Of course, I told you, she's my favorite out of you three."

Xiaoquan Aonai began to struggle again, trying to remove Dubian Che's arms that were wrapped around her.

"Because I don't want to deceive you, Teacher," he replied.

Dubian Che held her even tighter, their cheeks indented slightly from pressing against each other.

"Dating you because I was moved, I don't want to deceive you; liking you in my heart, I don't want to deceive you; not letting Meiji find out, I don't want to deceive you; even if she finds out, not leaving you, I don't want to deceive you; because of your teacher status, I don't want to deceive you; wanting to do many things with you that you don't allow, I don't want to deceive you."

Xiaoquan Aonai stopped moving, leaning in Dubian Che's embrace, feeling his strong heartbeat.

"Really?" Her voice was girlish, reminiscent of her from ten years ago.

The Xiaoquan Aonai who had cried among the fireflies.

"Mm." Dubian Che's face moved away from hers, his hand caressing her cheek.

Face to face, he kissed her dry lips that had become so because of crying.

"..."

Before their lips met, Xiaoquan Aonai held Dubian Che's chin with her palm, tilting his face upwards.

"Until you graduate, no physical contact is allowed!"

"Mr. Xiaoquan, you don't know, for young people nowadays, kissing doesn't count as physical contact, it's a sign of closeness," Dubian Che said as he leaned in once more.

Xiaoquan Aonai covered her mouth with her hands as if wearing a mask.

Dubian Che kissed the back of her hand.

Their bangs mingled together.

The tips of Xiaoquan Aonai's hair tickled Dubian Che's forehead, while his nose pressed against hers.

"Mmmmm!" Xiaoquan Aonai mumbled something through her "mask."

"What did you say?" Dubian Che pulled away.

"Huff!" She dropped her hands and took a light breath, "You said you wouldn't deceive me! How can kissing not count... Mmm!"

As Dubian Che's face closed in quickly, Xiaoquan Aonai hurriedly covered her mouth again.

But Dubian Che wasn't trying to kiss her.

He merely bent down, bringing their eyes to the same level.

"Teacher," he rubbed Xiaoquan Aonai's thick, pure black hair, "I like you."

"..."

Through her hair, the warmth of his palm could still be felt.

Xiaoquan Aonai's eyes, which had stopped crying, once more welled up with tears out of shyness, happiness, and surprise.

After a two-second silence, she suddenly pushed Dubian Che away and stood up.

"It's late, go take a bath and sleep! You can't be late in the morning, you know?" she pushed Dubian Che all the way to the entryway.

After he left, she covered her face with her hands.

"Ah—" One moment bouncing, the next jumping, and then twisting her body, she collapsed onto the sofa and clutched the pillow tightly.

"If Xiaoquan Aonai agrees to be my girlfriend and I've held her, then no matter what she thinks, likes me or hates me, she must belong to me for the rest of her life."

"Mmm—" With her face buried in the pillow, the sound of her call muffled, she rolled to the right.

"Teacher, I like you."

"Mmm—" She rolled to the left.

Their kiss happened through the palms of their hands.

"Mmm—" She flipped over, lying on the sofa, kicking violently with both legs.

Akiko and Miyazaki Mieko came out of the kitchen and saw Xiaoquan Aonai in such a state.

Akiko silently took out her phone and opened the camera.

◇

Dubian Che returned to room 502 without taking a bath.

He went out onto the balcony and gazed at the night view of Shengong Outer Garden, the dark forest with the bright lights of Shengong Stadium.

After enjoying the evening breeze for a while, he took out his phone and called Kiyono Lin.

"What's up?" came her cool voice, accompanied by the sound of a towel rubbing against hair.

"Just finished bathing?"

"Yeah."

"What a pity, I should have gone straight in to bathe, maybe bumping into you, helping each other scrub our backs."

"Hanging up."

"Wait, wait, wait, I have some good news to report to you."

"You're not going on your trip anymore?"

Dubian Che turned around, lounging against the balcony railing, "Is that good news to you?"

"Any bad news for Jiutiao Meijie is good news for me."

"What if I had an accident?"

"...Hanging up."

"I'm sorry, really sorry, God Kiyono, please forgive your follower," Dubian Che said in the same relaxed posture, his voice carrying a smile.

"One sentence."

"Would two be all right?"

"Beep, beep, beep."

Lady Kiyono was true to her word.

Dubian Che chuckled and sent her a message on LINE.

"Kiyono, I want to try to slowly become an honest person."

The message was read, but there was no reply.

Dubian Che tossed his phone on the table and picked up his clothes to take a bath.

If he was quick, maybe he could catch a whiff of Kiyono Lin's scent drifting from the 'luxury apartments at Shibuya Station.'

As the sound of water echoed in the bathroom, the phone on the table lit up silently.

On the screen, showing a photo of Jiutiao Meijie in a kimono, popped up a message.

"It's good news."

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